US Will Not Strike Iran Again Unless Provoked: Trump
US President Donald Trump has told his senior advisers that he may suspend military strikes on Iran as long as there is no fresh provocation from Tehran or Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to three sources familiar with the matter, cited by Reuters.
Current and former officials believe Mr. Trump has yet to make a final decision on how to end the unpopular conflict, which began last February with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. In recent weeks, he has alternated between threatening to escalate the war with further attacks and signalling a willingness to de-escalate the conflict.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Trump indicated that he was considering suspending strikes on Iran following meetings with national security advisers and several intelligence briefings. He has also shown sympathy towards Middle Eastern allies who have urged him not to resume a full-scale war.
In an interview with sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith last Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “I could end it right now if I wanted to. But at the request of the countries we want to protect, we are taking a slightly longer and more graceful path.”
A White House official said in a statement, “As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump is the chief architect and sole decision-maker. All the cards are in his hands, and he will always protect America’s interests. The United States is in an extremely strong position through its control of the Strait of Hormuz and the collapse of Iran’s economy. Only President Trump knows what he will do and when he will do it.”
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment. A senior US official and another source familiar with the matter said Mr. Trump had sought the views of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during phone calls over the past two weeks. Both leaders urged him not to launch further strikes on Iran. However, Mr. Trump made no specific commitments to either of them.
Two other sources said Mr. Trump had told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on October 31 that he was planning to strike Iran after the election. The Saudi crown prince urged him to suspend the attacks, arguing that economic sanctions against Iran were already proving effective. The Saudi Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: Reuters
